Driverless car to hit roads in Canberran care community

Residents of IRT Kangara Waters will soon be zipping around the Canberran facility in a driverless car.

The provider will trial Pod Zero, which has been designed to safely navigate private roads in residential aged care communities. Users will be able to hail Pod Zero and travel independently to appointments and social activities.

Launched at the 2017 Information Technology in Aged Care (ITAC) Conference held on the Gold Coast, IRT Group hopes the car – the product of a partnership with UK-based technology firm RDM Autonomous – will improve residents’ independence and quality of life.

John Vohradsky, head of IT & business excellence at IRT Group, said Kangara Waters residents have been trained in how to hail the Pod Zero via an app on their phone or tablet.

“Depending on the outcomes of the pilot, we may look to trial more driverless cars or make them a part of the service and experience offering at IRT communities,” Vohradsky says.

In an interview with Aged Care Insite, Vohradsky discussed how residents will get about using the car and the feasibility of widespread adoption in the aged care sector.